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1988 Buick Regal

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Regal.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1988 Buick Regal is configured around a four-speed automatic transmission with a 4-quart 5W-30 API oil fill and an EPA rating of 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. In the model's broader 1990–2020 complaint record — which runs from a single complaint in 2008 to a peak of 325 in 1998 — this year accounts for 165 owner complaints and 11 recalls, with hydraulic service brakes leading the issue categories. That positioning, well above the model's quietest year but well below its 1998 high, frames the 1988 as a mid-pack entry whose brake-system focus and elevated recall count are the natural starting points for any researcher tracing its long-term reliability story.

Model year2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 1988

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy18/26/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737090. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12737090
Engine air filter	25043119 discontinued
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	19354418
Front wiper blades	10093142
Serpentine belt	14092201 discontinued · alt 88986811
Thermostat	19435095 alt 10226107

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	192.1 in
Overall width	71.7 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	107.5 in
Curb weight	3023 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	65/35

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	18 / 26 / 21 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Regal of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

11.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 11.20 sec — 1988 Custom Coupe (Grand Touring Pkg)

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1988	Custom Coupe (Grand Touring Pkg) 2.8L V6	11.20 sec	18.20 sec	125 hp	FWD
1987	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	5.40 sec	14.20 sec	245 hp	RWD
1987	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	6.00 sec	14.70 sec	245 hp	RWD
1987	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	6.10 sec	14.70 sec	245 hp	RWD
1986	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	4.90 sec	13.90 sec	235 hp	RWD
1986	T-Type Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	5.85 sec	14.30 sec	235 hp	RWD
1985	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	7.50 sec	15.70 sec	200 hp	RWD
1991	Gran Sport Sedan 3.8L V6	8.60 sec	16.50 sec	170 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1050017 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record does not contain complaint, recall, investigation, or TSB counts for the 1988 model year, so direct year‑specific metrics cannot be quoted. However, the surrounding early‑1990s show a modest but variable pattern: complaints rise from 103 in 1990 to a peak of 249 in 1991, then fall to 108 by 1993; recalls stay low (2–9 per year) while investigations hover around 0–11, and TSBs increase steadily from 10 in 1990 to 44 by 1994. This early‑generation arc suggests that the platform experienced a brief surge in consumer issues around 1991 before stabilizing, with relatively few recalls throughout. Because 1988 sits just before this spike, it is likely to have been less affected by the complaints that peaked in 1991, making it a comparatively cleaner year within the generation. Consequently, a 1988 Buick Regal appears to be a reasonable purchase from a historical complaint/recall perspective, assuming its individual condition is sound.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

165

Owner complaints

12 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 165 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic84

Structure14

Power Train10

Engine & Engine Cooling10

Tires6

Seat Belts6

Suspension5

Electrical System4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 11 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

00V189000StructureReported 11/07/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
990309004	1999-10-01	Suspension	CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF GRINDING / SCRAPING / GROANING NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *TT

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Regal. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4 qt Engine oil filter 12737090 Engine air filter 25043119 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 19354418

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1988 Regal take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1988 Regal have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Regal get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpg.